The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-29
THE CONVICT PROBLEM.
A Correspondent Suggests a Way
Solve 1t.

OOlV6 II.
Editor Morning Netcs: AS a solution of
the convict question submit the following:
The number of railroads traversing our
State cross numerous rivers and creeks, re-
quiring bridges and culverts which are
often built of wood The many accidents
occurring from these suggest the idea that
if stone could be quarried and cut to con-
venient shape, at fair prices, most, if not all,
of these roads would adopt it, and make
these structures permanent and
safer. The public will shortly,
if they do not now, demand that
this be done. A stone culvert would have
prevented that fearful Chatsworth catas-
trophe. The railroads are learning that the
travelling public want safety as well as COM
fort, and that the roads can better please
them by spending less in decorating and
ornamenting their palace cars, and more on
their roadbed, bridges and culverts
With these facts in view, and the growing
demand for building material, would it not
be wise for the State of Georgia, in order to
settle this vexing convict lease system, to
abolish it altogether, and purchase, if she
does not already own, a stone quarry, or
more, say two or three in different parts
of the State, and set the convicts
to work to get out and put into shape stone
for building and other purposes. AT the
same time they could be employed in building
permanent structures for prison at each
quarry-an eastern penitentiary. a western
and central penitentiary-and wall them
in with stone, permanent structures for all
time to come Locations can be found in
our State to establish these prisons and fur
nish employment to all the convicts for
centuries the material being inexhaustible,
and when gotten out by convict labor be
cheap enough to be always in demand. and
still sell at price that will feed,
clothe and otherwise maintain them. A
vegetable garden or truck farm in connec-
tion with each prison would give employ
ment to such as could not work in the mines,
but whose labor utilized in this way would
furnish all the vegetables the prisons re-
quired They could also be made to make
their own shoes, hats and clothing In fact,
and in short, they could be made self-sus-
tanning in every way, and cost the State not
a dollar, for there is no doubt that the stone
is wanted for building, paving and railroad
purposes.
Much more could be said on the subject,
but will only say now, thst this plan of
employing the convicts will bring their
labor less in competition with free labor
than any other that / can think of, and
gives them permanent, steady employment,
good health and hard work 1t would in
truth be the hard labor in the penitentiary,
which the law cOmtemplates and which the
lease system does not provide By this
plan all the abuses complained of in the
lease system would be forever removed
The adoption of this plan of a permanent
penitentiary need not cost the taxpayers
a dollar, and would embrace all
the features of a reformatory, as the
female and juvenile convicts would be sepa-
rated from the more vicious and hardened
by reason of their different employment,
and could be provided with entirely differ
ent quarters, separating them entirely and
completely and still furnishing them prof.
table employment. Training and teaching
in morality and religion such as philanthro-
pists may desire to engage in, would be en-
couraged by the prison authorities and OPP
portunity made for its exercise, within the
walls, with much more hope of its being eff
fective, and proving of value What seems at
present the best way to do this, without taxing
the people, will be for the State to unload
some of her at present non-paying, non
producing property-such as that in Chat
tanooga-and use the proceeds in maintain
ing the convicts until the new system is Or
ganized and established. The adoption of
the plan will enable the present Legislature
to break up the lease system at once and set
at rest forever very vexing question.
r. E. T.